Suspendible load spacer

ABSTRACT

A suspendible load spacer including an expandable-contractible honeycomb spacing structure which is placeable between a pair of loads that are to be held apart. Openings adjacent the top of this structure are used to receive one or more freely inserted elongated suspension members which, when so inserted, extend beyond the lateral margins of the spacing structure to overlie and rest on the tops of such loads, thus to suspend and retain the spacing structure between the loads.

United States Patent [191 Kinnune, Jr.

' SUSPENDIBLE LOAD SPACER' [75] Inventor: William P. Kinnune, Jr.,Portland,

Oreg.

[73] Assignee: Western Kraft Corporation,

Portland, Oreg.

221 Filed: May 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 357,502

[521 US. Cl. ..l05/486, 105/367, 105/467 [51] Int. Cl 361d 45/00 [58]Field of Search 105/367, 369 B; 52/32,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,581,675 6/1971 Kauffman105/367 X 3,618,535 11/1971 Hess 105/369 B Primary ExaminerM. HensonWood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Kolisch, Hartwell, Dickinson & Stuart 5 7 ABSTRACT A suspendibleload spacer including an expandablecontractible honeycomb spacingstructure which is placeable between a pair of loads that are to be heldapart. Openings adjacent the top of this structure are used to receiveone or more freely inserted elongated suspension members which, when soinserted, extend beyond the lateral margins of the spacing structure tooverlie and rest on the tops of such loads, thus to suspend and retainthe spacing structure between the loads.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SUSPENDIBLE LOAD SPACER BACKGROUND ANDSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a suspendible loadspacer of the type which may be used, for example, to hold apart a pairof adjacent loads, such as stacks of cartons, in a railroad boxcar, orother freight container.

In the loading of a freight container, such as a boxcar, it oftenhappens that the loads placed therein do not completely fill theavailable horizontal storage space. Frequently, there are left one ormore generally planar vertical spaces between closely adjacent loads,which spaces should be filled with something sturdy in order to preventpotentially damaging load movement during transit.

Various sorts of load spacers or fillers have been proposed in the past,and the present invention concerns an improved form of load spacer whichmay conveniently be used for the purpose indicated. In particular, theinvention relates to a suspendible-type load spacer which can readily behung for use between a pair of spaced-apart loads, and, when no longerneeded, easily removed and compactly stored for later use. i

The proposed load spacer preferably comprises a verticallyexpandable-contractible, honeycomb-like cardboard spacing structurewhich may be placed between loads, and suspended there by one or moreelongated, relatively rigid suspension members which extend removablythrough openings in the structure to rest on the tops of the loads. Thesuspension members may take any one of several different forms,depending on the intended use.

The various objects and advantages attained by the invention will becomeapparent with a reading of the disclosure below in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective viewof a load spacer constructed according to the invention placed in usebetween two stacks of cartons.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevationfurther illustratingupper portions 'of the load spacer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view'of the load spacer of FIGS. 1 and 2 ina fully collapsed condition, suitable for storage.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are views somewhat similar to FIG. 1 showing threedifferent modifications of the inventlon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning now to the drawings, andreferring first to FIG. 1, indicated generally at 10 and 12 are twostacks of cartons, or loads, spaced apart by an upright generallyuniform-width gap, or space, 14. These stacks, with the space betweenthem, might typically be found in a load container such as a railroadboxcar after loading of the boxcar. Stacks l0, 12 are essentially thesame height. Stack 10 is shown only in phantom outline so as better toreveal a load spacer 16 which has been placed between the stacks. Spacer16 is constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Spacer 16 includes, essentially, three different kinds of components,namely: an expandable-collapsible honeycomb, or spacing means, 18; anelongated stiffening rib 20, which is joined to and extends asubstantial distance along the top piece in honeycomb 18; and a pair ofelongated suspension members, or bars, 22.

Honeycomb 18 herein is conventional in construction, and compriseselongated uniform-width strips of sheet material, such as double-facedcorrugated paper board-these strips being arranged generally in a stack,and being joined to vertically adjacent strips at spaced and staggeredpositions. With such construction, the honeycomb, when placed as shownin FIG. 1, can ex- I pand vertically downwardly, with adjacent strips inthe honeycomb bending relative to one another to form the open,multiple-cellular configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. The number ofstrips used in the honeycomb is a matter of choice. Also a matter ofchoice is the width of the strips. Typically, a sufficient number ofstrips is included to permit a spacer to expand easily between about 46feet. Strip widths for different spacers are chosen to accommodate theusual packing gaps found between loads. Convenient widths have beenfound to be 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches.

Rib 20 is preferably formed of wood, such as apiece of wood lath, and issecured as by gluing to the top sheet, or strip, 18a in honeycomb 18.While the incorporation of a rib, such as rib 20, is desirable in someinstances to stiffen or rigidify the top strip in a load spacer, itshould be appreciated that there are other circumstances where such arib need not be employed. Further, there may be yet other situationswhere suitable additional stiffening, if needed, can be obtained simplyby making the top piece in the honeycomb from a double layer of paperboard.

Bars 22 herein are formed of substantially the same material as rib 20.

As has already been mentioned, FIG. 1 illustrates spacer 16 in anoperative condition between stacks 10, 12. In this condition bars 22have been inserted in a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 23, 25 inthe honeycomb which are immediately beneath top strip 18a, and adjacentopposite ends of ribs 20. The bars are positioned with their oppositeends extending beyond the opposite sides of the honeycomb, and over thetops of cartons in the stacks. The bars, thus extending through openingsin the honeycomb, may be thought of as being in vertically capturedpositions therein. These bars, through resting on the cartons, suspendthe remaining parts in the spacer as shown, with the honeycomb expandeddownwardly and hung in the space between the stacks.

The spacer, thus, prevents cartons in the two stacks from shiftingtoward one another. With the opposite ends of bars 22 bearing down onthe cartons, and with the honeycomb bearing downv on the centralportions of the bars, the bars remain relatively stable in positionduring transit, and assure good performance reliability of the spacerthroughout transit.

When it is desired to remove the spacer from use, this is done simply bylifting it or moving it laterally out of space 14, removing bars 22, andthen collapsing the honeycomb. The spacer may be stored as shown in FIG.3, with bars 22 lying along opposite sides of rib 20, and bound theretoand to the honeycomb by a tie band 24. To return the spacer to use, thetie band is removed, the honeycomb expanded, bars 22 reinserted inopenings, such as openings, or apertures, 23, 25, adjacent the top ofthe honeycomb, and the spacer then 3 placed between loads, and suspendedtherebetween, as shown in FIG. 1.

It should be appreciated that in some cases it may be desirable to use alesser or a greater number of suspending bars. For example, there may besome kinds of loading conditions where a single bar, inserted through acentral upper opening in the honeycomb, will suffice. Then, too, theremay be instances where more than two bars, for example, three bars, maybe wanted.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate several other modifications of theinvention, wherein, instead of using elongated slender bars, such asbars 22, employed for this purpose are elongated, relatively broad flatsheets, such as those shown at 26 in these figures. A sheet 26 mighttypically be formed from the same sort of material used in the strips inthe honeycomb. FIG. 4 illustrates a single sheet 26 being used in anopening, or aperture, 27 in honeycomb 18, FIG. 5 a pair of such sheetsin openings 23, 25, and FIG. 6 three of such sheets in openings, 23, 25,27. As was true in the case of bars 22, the opposite ends of sheets 26extend beyond the opposite sides of honeycomb 18 to overlie and rest oncartons in the stacks.

. Where, instead of using an upper stiffening rib such as rib 20, adouble layer of paper board is used at the top of a honeycomb, thisdouble layer may beformed in such a way as to provide narrow openableslits, or openings, therein which may be used to receive either a bar 22or a sheet 26. Such construction is not specifically illustrated herein,inasmuch as it is believed to be readily envisionable from averbaldescription of it.

There is thus provided a load spacer construction which is extremelysimple to use and convenient to store. Because of the relatively largebearing surfaces afforded for a suspension member, be it a bar or asheet, when such is, in use, these suspension members remain reliably inplace during transit of a load, thus assuring reliable performance of aspacer.

While several embodiments and modifications of the invention have beendescribed herein, it is appreciated that other modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A suspendible load spacer for holding apart a pair of adjacentlaterally spaced loads comprising spacing means removably placeablebetween such loads,

means adjacent the top of said spacing means defining an aperture whichopens to laterally opposite sides of the spacing means, and

an elongated, unitary, relatively rigid suspension member removablyinsertable into and through said aperture to a vertically capturedposition therein, wherein its opposite ends extend beyond said oppositesides of the spacing means, said suspension member, when so inserted,and with said spacing means placed between a pair of loads, beingadapted to rest with each of its opposite ends seated on a different oneof the loads, thus to suspend and retain the spacing means between theloads,

said suspension member being adjustable in said aperture to an infinitenumber of different angular and projecting positions relative to saidspacing 5 means, adjustment of the position of said suspension memberrelative to said spacing means simultaneously adjusting the positions ofits said opposite ends relative to such loads.

2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprises anexpandable-contractible honeycomb structure.

3. The spacer of claim 2, wherein said aperture comprises one of theopenings in said honeycomb structure.

a plurality of elongated, unitary, relatively rigid suspension members,each removably insertable into and through a different one of saidapertures to a vertically captured position therein where its oppositeends extend beyond said opposite sides of said structure, eachsuspension member, when so inserted, and with said structure placedbetween a pair of loads, being adapted to rest with each of its oppositeends seated on a different one of the loads, thus to suspend and retainthe structure between the loads, each of said suspension members beingadjustable in an aperture toan infinite number of different an gular andprojecting positions relative tosaid spacing means, adjustment of theposition of a suspension member relative to said spacing meanssimultaneously adjusting the positions of the suspension member'sopposite ends relative to such loads.

1. A suspendible load spacer for holding apart a pair of adjacentlaterally spaced loads comprising spacing means removably placeablebetween such loads, means adjacent the top of said spacing meansdefining an aperture which opens to laterally opposite sides of thespacing means, and an elongated, unitary, relatively rigid suspensionmember removably insertable into and through said aperture to avertically captured position therein, wherein its opposite ends extendbeyond said opposite sides of the spacing means, said suspension member,when so inserted, and with said spacing means placed between a pair ofloads, being adapted to rest with each of its opposite ends seated on adifferent one of the loads, thus to suspend and retain the spacing meansbetween the loads, said suspension member being adjustable in saidaperture to an infinite number of different angular and projectingpositions relative to said spacing means, adjustment of the position ofsaid suspension member relative to said spacing means simultaneouslyadjusting the positions of its said opposite ends relative to suchloads.
 2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprises anexpandable-contractible honeycomb structure.
 3. The spacer of claim 2,wherein said aperture comprises one of the openings in said honeycombstructure.
 4. A suspendible load spacer for holding apart a pair ofadjacent laterally spaced loads comprising an expandable-contractiblehoneycomb spacing structure removably placeable between such loads, saidstructure including a plurality of spaced-apart apertures thereinadjacent the top thereof opening to laterally opposite sides of thestructure, said apertures being on substantially the same level in thestructure, and a plurality of elongated, unitary, relatively rigidsuspension members, each removably insertable into and through adifferent one of said apertures to a vertically captured positiontherein where its opposite ends extend beyond said opposite sides ofsaid structure, each suspension member, when so inserted, and with saidstructure placed between a pair of loads, being adapted to rest witheach of its opposite ends seated on a different one of the loads, thusto suspend and retain the structure between the loads, eAch of saidsuspension members being adjustable in an aperture to an infinite numberof different angular and projecting positions relative to said spacingmeans, adjustment of the position of a suspension member relative tosaid spacing means simultaneously adjusting the positions of thesuspension member''s opposite ends relative to such loads.